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Swans in the Snow

Sunday, February 12, 2012

At the Ohio Ornithological Society's Winter Raptor Extravaganza at The Wilds, January 14, we found a red-tailed hawk feeding on a roadkilled whitetail. It was loath to leave its food source, and gave us a beautiful look from our auto caravan.



Finally the tension was too much and it took off, flashing its best field mark.


The day was filled with such moments. One of my very favorite sights was trumpeter swans against the smoky blue hills of this reclaimed strip mine.


I really love being a photographer. In fact, it's the best thing that has ever happened to my aesthetic sense. When you are used to documenting what you see, you become highly sensitized to what's beautiful. To light in all its moods. To composition. You're constantly composing the next shot.

These swans nearly brought me to my knees. I was so, so happy they lacked plastic neck bands. Because not only would that have ruined my photo, but their naked state meant they might be the offspring of captive-bred birds. Truly wild. Truly ours, Ohio-bred..


I wheeled as they went over, snapping madly away.


I love a white bird against a dark sky.


Especially wild trumpeter swans against a dark Ohio sky.


6 comments:

Great shots of both the Red-Tailed and the beautiful swans.

An' those beautiful black feet!

Beautiful and thank you for these photographs. But please, please remember there are lots of great bird photographers out there, some of them astonishingly skilful, but that your gifts as a painter and writer set you apart.

-- Nick

Dear Julie,

I love that YOU love the white birds against the dark sky. I have always been stunned by the beauty of white egrets, herons and snowgeese against a dark cloudy sky. Thanks for sharing your wonderful looks at these beautiful birds. It bears saying again: You have resparked my urge to bird in the last year. (whispers: Yesterday I even tried sorting out gulls on a windy beach)

Kathy in Delray Beach

Absolutely gorgeous! Winter light flying poetry. Thanks again for the pictures and thoughts that entertain and enlighten.

Ohhhhhh - these are delicious! The photos, not the swans ;)

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